Overview
Kilofarad International (kFI) is an industry association created to promote the interests of the ultracapacitor community. Ultracapacitors are now becoming a standard option for commercial energy storage systems in consumer electronics, automotive, and industrial power systems. For ultracapacitors to be accepted as a mainstream solution, industry members must meet customer perceptions of what it means to be “mainstream”.
Large OEM customers require global sourcing, multiple suppliers, cost-enabled supply, uniform standards, total lifecycle management, and proven design tools before they commit their own product lines to a new component offering. Over the last decade, significant inroads have been made in ultracapacitor manufacturing. Multiple suppliers of high-power ultracapacitors are in operation around the globe with volume production capacity. Costs have been reduced by orders of magnitude, with further reductions forthcoming. While much progress has been made in technology and manufacturing, much effort remains to be accomplished to satisfy the production requirements of OEM customers, particularly regarding standards, regulations, and training. Fortunately, much of this work is non-competitive, and is the area of focus for KFI.
OEM customers require technical standards so they can appropriately evaluate ultracapacitor products with respect to performance, form, fit, and function. Standards typically include test methodologies and package definition, among other characteristics, and are best established within a globally accepted standard-setting infrastructure.
Regulations have major impacts on OEM customers, particularly on supply chain and end-of-life planning. The materials used in advanced ultracapacitors are not addressed in existing transportation regulations, and no recycling methodologies or infrastructure currently exists for advanced ultracapacitors.
Engineers need to be exposed to the benefits of integrating high-power ultracapacitors into their designs. Education and outreach programs are necessary for industry and academia to accelerate the adoption of ultracapacitors based on proven design tools and training.
kFI’s Standards, Regulatory, and Education/Outreach working groups focus on each of these areas, coordinating member-driven activities across existing global organizations. The Standards working group coordinates kFI member activities among global standards organizations in which members participate. The Regulatory working group facilitates activities among member companies to provide a unified voice in regional and global regulatory bodies. The Education and Outreach working group develops training tools and coordinates workshops and outreach opportunities.
kFI is affiliated with the Electronic Components, Assemblies, & Materials Association (ECA). As an affiliate of ECA, kFI is directly linked with one of the world’s foremost standards-setting bodies, and leverages the expertise and network of the ECA infrastructure.
All stakeholders, including ultracapacitor manufacturers, suppliers, industry experts, and OEMs and end-users are encouraged to participate in the association.
Kilofarad International will be successful as the central international organization for the ultracapacitor industry through the cooperative efforts of its members, working together to build the ultracapacitor industry into a mainstay in the world of commercial energy storage systems.
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